Robert e



(No Model.)

R. E. POINDEXTER.

FENCE POST BASE.

No. 445,198. Patented Jan. 2'7,'1891.

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PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT E. POINDEXTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST BASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,198, dated January27, 1891.

Application filed April 18, 1890. Serial No. 348,493. (No model.)

To all whom it vita/y concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. POINDEXTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State ofIndiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-PostBases, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to bases for iron posts, particularly forthose made from gas-pipe; and it consists in certain details ofconstruction whereby with a minimum of weight a base is produced whichwill hold the post firmly and strongly in an upright position, as willbe hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof,and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure1 is a perspective View of my improved base; Fig. 2, a similar view ofan alternative construction, which is especially adapted to be used withcorner-posts; Fig. 3, a central vertical sectional view of theconstruction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a horizontal sectional View of thesame, and Fig. 5 a horizontal sectional view of the construction shownin Fig. 2.

The said fence-post base consists of a main web or plate A, startingfrom a point at the bottom and increasing gradually to near the top,where it spreads out into wings a, of considerable width. Upon thesewings a, in the construction shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, are preferablyother small wings a, arranged transversely of said wings a, which assistin holding the posts firmly in position. Its central portion isconstructed with a socket to receive the lower end of the post B, whichsocket consists of a ring-like portion a at the upper end, adapted tosurround the body of the post, and a dowel a at the lower end, overwhich the hollow lower end of the post will fit.

In the constructions shown in Figs. 2 and 5 the transverse flange A isof substantially the same width as the main flange, and is locatedsomewhat to one side of the center of the structure, with its greaterportion extending out in the direction it is intended to run thetransverse line of fence. The socket for attaching the post B thereto issimilar in form and character to that shown in the other construction,the principal difference between the two constructions being theaddition of this wide flange, by which strain is better resisted fromthe two directions than where but one flange is employed. As will benoticed by an inspection of the drawings, the metal is so distributed inmy improved bases that a very large surface to come in contact with thesurrounding earth is provided in proportion to the weight of the base,and at the same time it is so arranged as to be of a good degree ofstrength.

The post B is seated in the socket in the post-base, extending downthrough the ringlike portion a and over the dowel a It is secured inthis socket by means of a pin b, which passes through a hole therein andpreferably rests in a notch formed in the edges which constitute thesides of thesaid socket, said socket being open for the greater part ofits length, as shown.

Having thus fully described my said invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A post-base consisting of a main web A, having .wings a, and a socketfor the post, consisting of a ring-like portion a at its extreme upperedge and a dowel a at the bottom of the socket and over which the hollowlower end of the fence-post is adapted to fit, substantially as shownand described.

2. The combination, with a hollow fencepost, of a post-base consistingof a main web or portion extending into the ground, wings thereon, awide transverse wing upon said main web or portion located to one sideof its center, and a socket to receive the post, substantially as shownand described.

3. The combination of a post-base having a socket, a hollow post fittedin said socket and having a transverse hole, and a pin passing throughsaid hole and engaging with the edges of the post-socket sides in saidpost-base, whereby said post is held securely in said socket,substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, atIndianapolis, Indiana, this 15th day of April, A. D. 1890.

ROBERT E. POINDEXTER. [L. 8.]

